Ashley Cole will not be congratulating Wayne Rooney on the birth of baby son Kai or calling Rio Ferdinand for a quick chat, reports The Sun. Cole insists there will be no room for friendship on Sunday when Chelsea take on Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

He said: "Sunday will be a huge battle and beating Manchester United would be massive. So even though some of the United players are my England team-mates, I won't be talking to them before the game.

"We're playing against rivals here. You can't treat them as friends.

"Sometimes it's difficult when you're playing against good mates. But that's the job. You must get on with it.

"It will be good to talk with them after the game - hopefully, after I've got one over on them.

"It is going to be really tense. We don't want to lose and United certainly don't. Going five points clear of United at this stage of the season would be a huge psychological advantage for us.

"Everyone says it but if you finish above United you're going to win the League. That is our aim."